That would mean instead of annual increases of $325 for five years, tuition would rise $254 for seven consecutive years, for a total of $1778. The new amount includes future increases indexed to the rate of inflation. The Liberal government also said it would review and increase the loans-and-bursaries program.

Education Minister Line Beauchamp told reporters the increases would only work out to only $177 a year, or 50 cents a day, after factoring in the income tax credit on tuition fees.

The government's proposal includes:

Spreading the tuition increase over seven years instead of five.

Adding $39 million in bursaries.

Linking loan payback schedules to income after graduation.

Creating a special council to oversee management of universities.

Periodically evaluating the effect tuition increases are having on students.

Some students promptly announced they would protest in the streets again — for the fourth consecutive night — after hearing the offer of concessions and said the theme this time would be, "It’s not an offer, it’s an insult!"

Student leaders have not yet issued an official response to the offer. The proposal will be discussed by members of student associations, who will start voting this weekend on whether to accept the offer and return to class.

About 170,000 students are still avoiding their classes as part of the series of tuition protests. They want a tuition freeze.